SLEEPING AT LAST | bajifuyu

five

Blood splatters along with several unconscious bodies littered the alleyway. Baji stood tall among the knocked-out men of Mandala, not even breaking a sweat after fighting a bunch of useless goons. Chifuyu, with wide eyes, admired the scene before him. 

It must be an exaggeration to say, but he can say that Baji looked ethereal at that moment. A man who is worthy of respect and admiration.

Damn, he's so cool, Chifuyu thought to himself.

"Then, Chifuyu." Baji trailed off,

"Do you like some Peyoung Yakisoba?"

"Y...Yes!" Chifuyu answered with all due respect towards the man that single-handedly saved his life.

Chifuyu's bugging thoughts about this man suddenly dissipate his mind and are replaced with admiration and respect.

"Let's go to my place, then!" He offered to the latter, to which the blonde can only agree.

How could other students taint Baji's name, and Baji not even saying anything about it? Chifuyu mentally questioned.

For a delinquent, pride and reputation are considered precious things. That could only mean that this tall man before him could care less about it. As long as he has the power to protect his friends, that is all that matters to Baji.

Chifuyu noticed the familiar walk to his home. Looking up from staring at his feet, he saw his apartment complex.

"Is that apartment building where you live, Baji-san? I also live in that apartment building! I'm on the second floor." Chifuyu claimed enthusiastically, happy that he finally had someone to hang around it.

"That's cool, man! I live on the fifth floor!" Baji said with the same energy as the latter, excited to be near his newfound friend.

Arriving at his place, Baji offered Chifuyu his unexpectedly normal room. He thought of something edgier than what he displays, but looking at Baji's poindexter style, he never questioned it again. He decided to sit and observe the odd things that Baji had.

Baji's room consisted of a shelf full of manga, a collection of pictorial books such as National Geographic, stuff for cats, and weights that rest in the corner. His martial arts uniform and gang uniform hanging on the side did not go unseen by the blonde kid. With that, Chifuyu concluded that the black-haired man is way cooler than any delinquent he encountered.

"Hey, we only got one Peyoung. Would you mind if we share it again?" Baji asked, surprising the observing lad. Chifuyu cleared his throat because he could swear his heart jumped out of his throat the moment his friend opened the door.

"You can take it," Chifuyu told him, "I'm all fine," he assured,

"Are you sure?" Baji asked, concerned about his beaten-up friend. Chifuyu nods in response. Baji immediately took off after the blonde's answer and came back with his yakisoba together with other stuff.

The scent of alcohol whips through the air as Baji opened the medical kit. He took out several bandages and antiseptics. Chifuyu wonders why the man had it, staring at his skillful hands preparing the ointments.

"Here," Baji said, offering the bandages to the bruised blonde, "Clean your wounds,"

"No, I'm fine-" the bruised lad's refusal muffled by the alcohol shoved in his face. Chifuyu swats it out and throws it at Baji.

"I said I'm fine, Baji-san."

"Your face says otherwise,"

"Please, listen-"

"Take it, dumbass. Don't you see how bruised your face is?" Baji questioned, annoyed at the fact that Chifuyu continues refusing his offers. Standing up, he took the mirror from his study desk and put it in front of Chifuyu.

Chifuyu immediately felt sorry for his face. A black eye, busted lips, and cuts that littered his cheeks decorated his face. Somehow, he felt ashamed, letting those bastards beat him up to this sorry state.

If I was only strong enough, he thought to himself.

"See that? You're not okay like you said," Baji scold the younger, offering him again the alcohol.

"But, you look cool with all that bruises," Baji whispered, embarrassed about what he said. Red tinted Chifuyu's face at the sudden confession of the black-haired guy, a foreign feeling of giddy blossoms in him.

"Damn, you know how to stir people up," Chifuyu said and started tending his wounds. Stinging pain wraps his senses as soon as the antiseptic solution met his wounds.

Chifuyu admits that he can stand sleep deprivation than the pain of tending his wounds.

"By the way, Baji-san," he muttered, eyes still fixated at the mirror as he cleans the cut on his lips. The mentioned lad hums in response, eating his yakisoba in silence.

"The black jacket on the side is that your-" interrupted by the sudden tackle of the older guy, Chifuyu caught himself locked in Baji's arms. A wide grin is evident on his face, proud that Chifuyu noticed his uniform.

"Yeah, that's my uniform. It's so cool, isn't it? Mitsuya designed that uniform for us," he claimed enthusiastically, reminding Chifuyu of his current headache.

Baji's carefreeness is contagious enough to whoever is near, but in Chifuyu's state, it could be the cause of his death. 

"Yes, your uniform is cool," the blonde said, trying to get away from the thrilled man, "Can you let go of my head now? I still need to clean my wounds," he begged, and Baji let him go.

The older one muttered an apology about his sudden actions, and Chifuyu only dismissed him by continuing his activities.

"Tokyo Manji, was it?" he asked, and Baji nods.

"How about you, Chifuyu? Are you in a gang or something?" Baji questioned, going back to his unattended yakisoba.

"I'm not a part of a gang," the blonde answered, "I'm just your typical delinquent," he added while adding a bandage on his forehead. Baji hesitantly nods to Chifuyu's answer, thinking that there could be more to his yellow-fried hair.

"Oh, right," Chifuyu said, breaking Baji from his thoughts.

"What?" he asked, staring at the younger teen as he cleans himself after tending to his wounded face.

"About the Kazutora guy, are you guys in the same gang?" Chifuyu questioned, curious about him since the latter did nothing but spat his name multiple times.

Baji smirked.

"Yeah, we are," he said, putting down his container of yakisoba,

"Kazutora is an important friend of mine,"

__________

Publishing this chapter early because I need to focus on my Entrance Exams first :) I might come back next week (the same day) to update this book again. Don't be afraid to vote and comment your thoughts <3 (they are very much appreciated)

And, also hoping I can pass and enter my dream school!